Two charged in Gainesville home burglary

Published: Friday, May 24, 2013 at 10:21 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, May 24, 2013 at 10:21 a.m.

Two Gainesville men were arrested Friday in connection with a home burglary in which several weapons and pieces of jewelry had been taken, according to arrest reports.

Christopher Wendling, 41, who lists the St. Francis House homeless shelter as his address, was charged with armed burglary of a home, grand theft, dealing in stolen property, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and filing false pawn transactions.

Jeremy Ray Clarkston, 28, of 1228 NW 44th Ave., was charged with armed burglary of a home, grand theft, dealing in stolen property and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

The burglary happened May 2 at a home in northwest Gainesville. The owner said a door was broken to gain entry and that several guns valued at more than $1,000 were taken. Jewelry also was taken, the reports state.

The owner told police Clarkston had done some maintenance work on the air conditioner several weeks before the robbery. On the same day as the burglary, Wendling pawned jewelry that had been reported stolen.

Police reported that Wendling told officers he went to the home with Clarkston and stayed in the car while Clarkston went inside. He told police Clarkston returned with guns and jewelry and that they then drove to a pawn shop, where Wendling pawned some of the items.

The reports state Wendling told police he and Clarkston went to the Majestic Oaks apartment complex in southwest Gainesville to sell a handgun stolen in the burglary.

Clarkston told police he told Wendling about the guns and where to find them in the house, his arrest report states. Clarkston told police he stayed in the car while Wendling got the guns.

The report states he told police that Wendling pawned some of the items and sold several guns at Majestic Oaks.

<p>Two Gainesville men were arrested Friday in connection with a home burglary in which several weapons and pieces of jewelry had been taken, according to arrest reports.</p><p>Christopher Wendling, 41, who lists the St. Francis House homeless shelter as his address, was charged with armed burglary of a home, grand theft, dealing in stolen property, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and filing false pawn transactions.</p><p>Jeremy Ray Clarkston, 28, of 1228 NW 44th Ave., was charged with armed burglary of a home, grand theft, dealing in stolen property and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.</p><p>The burglary happened May 2 at a home in northwest Gainesville. The owner said a door was broken to gain entry and that several guns valued at more than $1,000 were taken. Jewelry also was taken, the reports state.</p><p>The owner told police Clarkston had done some maintenance work on the air conditioner several weeks before the robbery. On the same day as the burglary, Wendling pawned jewelry that had been reported stolen.</p><p>Police reported that Wendling told officers he went to the home with Clarkston and stayed in the car while Clarkston went inside. He told police Clarkston returned with guns and jewelry and that they then drove to a pawn shop, where Wendling pawned some of the items.</p><p>The reports state Wendling told police he and Clarkston went to the Majestic Oaks apartment complex in southwest Gainesville to sell a handgun stolen in the burglary.</p><p>Clarkston told police he told Wendling about the guns and where to find them in the house, his arrest report states. Clarkston told police he stayed in the car while Wendling got the guns.</p><p>The report states he told police that Wendling pawned some of the items and sold several guns at Majestic Oaks.</p>